Traction-wheel.



P. BOTTRILL.

TRAGTION WHEEL. APPLICATION HLE'D 00T. 15, 1907.

Patented 0013.27, 1908. F' I Gl FI G2- narran raras ramener ,ou.unen,1

FRANK BOTTRILL, OF TINTINARA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.y

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Application filed October 15, 1907. Serial No. 397,484.

other road vehicles, especially over a sandy or yielding surface, and its novel features consist in the provision of a series of oscillatable bearers flexibly mounted upon and attached to the wheel. rim in one or (preferably) two circles, the bearers in each circle being arranged end to end between suitable flanges extending .around the rim.

ln order that my invention. maybe clearl understood lwill describe the same with reference toA the accompanying drawings in Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel provided with two circles-or sets of bearers, the connections of the more distant circle being omitted for the salie of clearness. F ig. 2 is a front view of the wheel. Figs. 3 `and 4 are sectional views of portion of a wheel showing no spokes and only one of the bearers, Fig. 3 showing more particularly the method of attaching the bearers and Fig. l the method of constructing .the rim of the wheel. In Fig. 4 two methods of constructing the bearers are shown. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the bearers showing portions of the cable connections. Fig. G'is asimilar View to Fig. 3 showing the groove extending part way `only through the wheel rim. Fig. 7 shows the method of providing flanges upon an old wheel.

According to my invention the wheel rim' is formed with a central flange A and two side flanges B around its circumference. Midway between the central and each of the side flanges is a slot or groove C. Each groove may extend right through the rim, or as shown in Fig. 6 itl may be merely an indentation or recess in the rim providing a bed for the cable connection to impinge upon. The rim is attached to the hub by spokes arranged in any suitable manner. The construction I prefer is that shown particularly in Fig. 4C in which the rim is formed of three rings or annular portions D connected together by shortchannel-shaped pieces E. Where only one set of the bearers Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ont. a7, ieee.

is fitted to the rim, the rim has two side flanges only with one groove midway between them. Y

My invention may beapplied to old and existing wheels-.by securing `upon the run suitable rings of angle iron to form the flanges as shown in Fig. 7. l

Each bearer is channel-'shaped in cross section.' The construction lI have devised 'for heavy wheels,- such as those of traction engines, consists preferably of twov side beams F connected together by means of a plate H riveted to the outer face of the beams and provided with cross ribs or grippersJ. The grippers J are necessary only for driving wheels. The space betweenthe .two beams forms a groove along the inner face of each bearer permitting of the attachment and movement of theconnections l whereby the bearers are attached to the rin'i. iThe inner faces of the bearers oscillate upon the face ofthe wheel rim between the flanges.

Each bearer is flexibly attached to the wheel by cable' connections K, preferably three cables crossingione another and lying in the aforesaid grooves of the bearer and of the rim. Each of the connections is approximately the full length of the bearer, one end of each being ysecured to across channel piece of the wheel rim by a U bolt' and the other end being secured to the opposite end of the bearer by means of a gr'ooved block 'encircling a pin in the bearer near its end. The ends of the bearers are slightly curved inwards 'in order to insure their rapid and exact fitting into place particularly when traveling at fast speeds. For lighter wheels the bearers may be formed of a length of steel plate bent into channel formas shown in Fig. 4. Steel wearing plates are attached to the inner face and metal or wooden grippers to the outer face.

In operation the wheelasit rotates carries the bearers around with it and as each l lbearer an'dof the groove.

2. An improved road wheel, comprising a Wheel rim lformed with a central flange and vtwo side flangesv )Vith grooves between. the central and each of the side flangessaid rnn` being formed of tln'ee annular portions connected ,together by short channel-shaped .pieces,'in combination with a series of oscilflatable bearers arranged in two circles, the bearers 1n each circle being arranged end to end and each bearer being flexibly attached to the Wheel rim by means of cable connecltions approkimately the full Alength'rof the bearer, substantially as described.

3. lIn 'an improved road wheel, the combi* nation. with a rim having a central flange and two side flanges7 of a series of oscillatable bearers mounted end to end between such flanges in two sets or circles and ilexi-l bly attached to the rim, substantially asv described.'A

4. A IWheel having a rim formed of three rings or annular portions, and spaced pieces connectmg the rmgs, sa1d pieces being sub- 'eoasec stantially U-shaped in cross section and provided at the ends of their sidemembers with flanges, by means to the rings. y

5. In an improved road wheel, a rim having a central flange and two side flanges with grooves between, series ofoscllatable bearers arranged end 4to endbetweegi flanges in two sets or circles and' ca les/attached at the one end to the 'itiheel rim and atthe other end to the bearers, substantially as described.

' 6. In an improved road wheel; a series ot' oscillatable bearers flexibly mounlted upon and attached to the wheel rim, each bearer being channel-shaped in cross section and Aconsisting vof two beams connected together by meansl of a cross piece, each bearer having such of which they are secured at each end a. cross pin engaged by one end of a connection the other end of such connection Abeing secured to the Wheel rim, substantially as described',

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my linvention I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses this third day of September 190 FRANK BOTTRILL;

Witnesses: y

ARTHUR GORE CoLLIsoN,l LESLIE HERBERT BROADBENT. 

